Traveling Light

Today I’m doing a follow-up
post continuing on from yesterday’s theme about summer getaways to share my personal packing tips. Many of you have emailed in the past few months asking
about this specifically so I hope this will help answer some of your questions.
This year in particular, as a family, we have planned more camping
excursions, road trips & weekend getaways than ever before. And most
of the time, we’re restricted to bringing just one bag per person. Though
I never considered myself a light packer, through plenty of trial & error,
I have now developed a system that works well & ensures I only bring
exactly what I need.

1) Choose appropriate clothing for your destination &
activities

Two years ago when we flew
home to Oregon for the summer, I made the mistake of packing pretty sundresses
& silk blouses that I really wanted to wear. But, most of the days were spent lounging by
my parents’ pool & relaxing on the farm, so they were not practical
clothing choices and, consequently, never ended up being worn. As hard as it may be, it’s crucial to think
realistically about how you’ll be spending your time & choose pieces that
make the most sense for those activities.
I also make it a point to check the 10-day weather forecast for where
we’re headed so I know exactly what temperature range to expect.

I used to be famous for
throwing in a bunch of random items at the last minute that I felt I would
somehow “need”…which would inevitably never end up getting worn.
So I started using this system instead: once I have a good idea of what
types of pieces I’ll need for our trip, I go through my closet and create head
to toe looks (this includes footwear, jewelry/accessories & bags). When
I have the complete outfit on, I take a picture of it with my phone in the
full-length mirror. Then I have those photos available for quick
reference while we’re traveling and I’m not scrambling to put an outfit
together each morning. In order to pack as light as possible, I try to select items in colors & patterns that will be easy to re-wear with other pieces I’m bringing. For example, using the pieces in the photo below, I was able to create 9 different looks by mix & matching items.

For a long weekend away, I
try to keep my beauty routine as simple as possible. I only select two
lip colors & two eye-shadows to bring with me and I fill small reusable bottles with my favorite shampoo & conditioner to save on space in my bag.
These POND’S Cleansing Towelettes have become my go-to wipes for removing
my makeup on those nights when I’m too tired to crawl out of bed. But,
I’ve come to love them even more this season because they are easy to take with
me wherever I go – from the gym to the beach to camping in the woods. They gently remove dirt, oil & makeup
while instantly hydrating my skin, which is essential for summer travel when women tend to overwash their face with soap & water. And unlike other facial cleansers, they’re not liquid, which means I can toss them in my carry-on bag to use on a
long flight.

My go-to outfit for the day that I’m traveling is comfortable layered basics. I typically wear a knit tank, lightweight jacket, stretchy jeans & comfortable flats. I also prefer to wear my hat, when possible, so I don’t risk it getting smashed in my bag. If you’re heading to a warmer climate, try layering an airy oversized scarf over your top, instead of a jacket – it can double as a wrap or blanket should you need it en route & you can remove it once you arrive.

If you have any secrets for traveling light or packing tips you’ve learned over the years, please share in the comments below. And let me know if you’d like to see a further in-depth post about how to pack more mix-and-matchable pieces to build multiple outfits for your trips!

This post was created in connection with my appointment as Influencer for POND’S.

Disclosure

Penny Pincher Fashion is a part of several affiliate networks. This means when you click on links to various merchants on this site and/or make a purchase, this may result in a commission that is credited to PPF. I take the responsibility of recommending products very seriously & will link to items that I love & are from reputable brands.